What is on Your "Acid Reflux Food Not to Eat" List?

Certain food and drinks can add to the problem of acid reflux. How do we know which acid reflux foods not to eat and what ones are unlikely to cause reflux to flare up? The best way to be certain if a particular food is causing an attack of reflux, is to keep a list of the foods you eat and drink. Also, record any symptoms you have during this period. A food that causes excess stomach acid in one person may not cause it in someone else. Keeping a record will help you determine the foods you need to avoid in order to control your acid reflux. There are certain foods that are more likely to cause reflux than others are.

Acid Reflux - Food Not To Eat

Foods commonly known to cause heartburn include dairy products such as milk, ice cream, cottage cheese, and even yogurt. Milk may seem like a quick solution to sooth the stomach and stop reflux. The truth is, it encourages the production of more stomach acid.

Drinks that can increase the secretion of stomach acid include beer, wine, and soda pop. Drinking beer can double your stomach acid within an hour.

Fried food, fast food, fatty foods, mints, chocolate, other sweets, potato chips, and tomato-based products can all contribute to excess stomach acid. Other foods include ground beef or chuck, chicken nuggets, Buffalo wings, macaroni and cheese, spaghetti with sauce, mashed potatoes, and fries.

You may discover that reflux occurs after eating foods that are not on a typical "acid reflux food not to eat" list or that you can eat certain foods on the list with no problems. For example, eating chocolate may not trigger an acid attack in you, but may have the opposite effect on others. Keep a record to see what you can and cannot eat.

The best way to avoid acid reflux is to eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of three big meals. This will reduce the amount of acid required to digest the food. Foods such as bread, pasta, and rice have a tendency to absorb the acid and are prone to be easier on the stomach.

Do not lie down soon after eating, wait at least an hour. Avoid heavy meals in the evening. The more food you eat, the longer it takes to digest and thus produces more acid. Elevate your head six inches or more when lying down.

According to some studies, there is no evidence to support the claim that acidic fruit, coffee, and spicy food trigger acid reflux. In fact, many claim that citrus fruits such as lime actually reduce their acid reflux. However, many people with acid reflux can not tolerate these foods and they are leading contributors on their "acid reflux food not to eat" list.

The symptoms of reflux can be very painful. Most people take prescriptions or over the counter medications such as acid reducers to alleviate the symptoms. The condition can be controlled by making diet and behavior changes. Learning the foods you need to avoid, eating smaller meals, elevating your head at night, and not eating too soon before bedtime. You may want to talk to your doctor and work with him or her on a plan for controlling your reflux. But you must keep an "acid reflux food not to eat" list to know for certain what foods your own body can handle!